The West Chester Golden Rams have started the 2014 season on fire. They are now 4-0 thanks to their Saturday victory over Edinboro. The 1-0 win came in the rain with a Carly Yost goal. The shutout was the third consecutive for goalie Alex Srolis, who made four saves to keep the clean sheet. The Rams have not conceded a goal in nearly 350 minutes of competitive soccer. Their outstanding defense complimented by nine different goal scorers has allowed West Chester to jump out to a 3-0 start in PSAC conference play.
| BR | TEAM | LAST BR | CHANGE | C | TDS | RPI | REC | SOS | HS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 |  |
West Chester | 26 | 7 | 4-0 |
During the first four games of the season, West Chester managed a win over BR-25 Kutztown. That win came after two goals from freshman. Forward Laura Slavich scored first in the 61st minute to break the deadlock. Twenty minutes later, defender Kaitlyn McNamara scored on a floated shot from a distance of thirty-five yards. They followed up that win with a 4-0 drubbing of Mansfield, which featured four different goal scorers. Balance in attack and a staunch defense have been absolutely vital features of West Chester’s brilliant start to the season.
Carly Henry and Sara Bennis have anchored the Golden Rams back line that has not conceded a goal in nearly four full games. Erika Schrock and Kaitlin McNamara have also been crucial this season when called upon. The defenders have only allowed their goalkeepers to see a total of eleven shots so far this season. When faced with a stray shot to challenge her, Alex Srolis has risen to the occasion magnificently. Their solid defensive core makes the Rams certain contenders for a PSAC title.
Senior forward Carly Yost leads all West Chester scorers with three goals and an assist. She has been a veteran influence over the team, which boasts an impressive eleven players in its freshman class. Lexi Lentz has notched a pair of assists to go along with the goal she scored against Wilmington. Senior Cara Deola has also been an influential playmaker, with assists in each of West Chester’s first three matches of the season.
Next up for West Chester is a weekend trip to Erie, where they will face conference opponents Mercyhurst and Gannon. Gannon has a 3-1 record and has defeated both Mansfield and Edinboro in overtime. Mercyhurst managed a win against Mansfield, but could only earn a draw against Edinboro. The matches represent a big test for Head Coach Betty Ann Kempf Townsley and her team. Look for West Chester to continue the blistering pace they have already set for themselves. With a rock solid defense and seniors playing crucial midfield and forward roles, they are one of the teams to beat in the PSAC.
